1. Made impossible
   "The new law had an obviating effect on certain business practices";
   - preclusive

1. Prevent the occurrence of; prevent from happening; to protect from or to keep away anything undesirable; to ward off
   "They managed to obviate the crisis through quick action";
   - forefend [archaic], forfend [archaic], deflect, avert, head off, stave off, fend off, avoid, ward off
    
2. Remove or make unnecessary
   "The new system obviates the need for manual processing";
   - rid of, eliminate

See also: preventative, preventive

Type of: forbid, foreclose, forestall, get rid of, preclude, prevent, remove